Electric switch means



July 4, 1944. J. F, o"BR|EN I' 2,352,653

ELECTRIC SWITCH MEANS Filed Aug. 27, 1940 s sheets-sheet i INVNTOR JsephOBrlery eob' July 4, 1944. .1. F. OBRIEN 2,352,653

' ELECTRIC SWITCH MEANS Filed Aug. 27, 1940 3 sheets-sheet 2 Ti. I Ticy.

July 4, 1944. J. F. oBRlEN ELECTRIC SWITCH MEANS Filed Aug. 27, 1940 3Sheets-Shea?I 3 INVENTOR Y M w m0/m T o M F. hP e S vw Patented July 4,i9

UNITED PANT oFFlCE 6 Claims.Y (Cl. 177-311) The present inventionrelates to improvements in electric switches.

In particular, the present invention relates to improved switch meanswherein standardized parts may be assembled and adapted by simpleadjustments at the stage of manufacture, to any one o f a variety ofelectrical circuits.

It is an object of the invention to provide an I improved electricswitch of standardized construction, embodying means wherebyA itselectric circuit characteristics may be readily altered.

It is lan object of the invention to provide switch means incorporatinga signal lamp or the like, said signal lamp functioning, optionally, asa beacon or a pilot lamp, pursuant to a simple alteration of certain ofthe switch elements during the stage of assembly of the switch.

It is an object of the invention to provide an 'improved switch of thetoggle or tumbler type,

said switch being substantially completely silent in its operation.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved switch meanswhereby the circuit breaking element thereof may be readily removed forinspection or replacement, without special tools or equipment.

Pursuant to the present invention, the improved switch includes amercury type of circuit breaking mechanism, suitably mounted forrotation into open or closed circuit status. Preferably, the mountingmeans for the circuit breaking mechanism includes a saddle structurearranged to connect a contact of said mercury switch optionally to oneor another of a pair of conductors within the switch. Further, theswitch may include signal lamp means so mounted and arranged that at theoption of the assembler of the switch, the lamp means may be included inthe switch circuit to act as a beacon light, in which the lamp means isilluminated when the mercury switch is in open-circuit status, or apilot light, wherein the lamp means is illuminated only duringclosed-circuit periods of the mercury switch.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5v is a vertical section taken on the line 8-5 of Fig. 3;

'e Fig. 6 is a vertical section takeny on the line 8--8 of Fig. 3: A

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken onl the line 'l-l of Fig. 3, it beingassumed in Figs. 4 through 7 that the switch cover plate has beenreplaced; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the switch, with the bottomclosure plate removed to show th arrangement of conductors therein;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the cover, showing the lamp mounting;

Figs. 10 and 1l are perspective views of switch contacts, the brokenlines indicating a line of severance of one of the conductor elementsthereof;

Fig. l2 is a perspective of a cap for the male end of the switch body;

Fig. 13 is a perspective of a jumper for eiecting a change in anelectric circuit incorporating the present invention; and

Figs. 14 through 17 are schematic wiring diagrams indicating typical.electrical circuits in which the switch may be employed.

Referring to the drawings, 2t represents a preferred embodiment of anelectric switch comprising the present invention. Said switch isdesirably of the tumbler type, wherein therotation of a finger member 2|over a limited arc is effective to open or close an electric circuitaccording to the direction in which the nger piece is rotatel. A mercurybutton 22 is employed in preference to the usual open electric contacts.Lamp means 23, to operate either as a pilot or afbeacon according towhether the lamp is in series or parallel with the switch conductors, aslater described, is secured to a cover 24 for support within a suitablecavity of the switch body 25 when the cover is in operative position.Said lamp is suitably arranged with respect to a window 2B formed in thecover 24.

lamp 23 is of the miniature neon type, said Other features andadvantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig..1 is a plan view oi a switch embodying the I present invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, enlarged-to show structural details;

Fig. 31s a top plan view of thel switch, with the cover plate removed;

lamps using an almost undetectable amount of electric current when inilluminated status.

The switch body 25 is formed with a male end portion 21 and a femalesocket portion 28, suitable for seriatim interconnection with electricwiring means of the type exemplified by the presently pendingapplication of Louis G. Morten, Serial No. 286,734, 'filed July 27,1939, and entitled ElectricalV unit. As appears from said Mortenapplication electrical interconnection of Il conductors of the seriatiminterconnected units Preferably, the

- within which .the mercury button.

may be made through the agency of metallic pins inserted into andtrictionally engaging the tubular conductors of the adjacent units.

The switch unit conductors, see Figs. 2v and 8,

' comprise a tubular conductor 3l extending the full length of theswitch A bodyand 1- complementary tubular conductors 3|, 31a, the latterbeing in insulated spaced relationship with conductor 3l although inalignment therewith. The conductors are arranged within grooves providedin a lower wall 32 of the body 25,'and in complementary grooves providedin a sub-base 34, the latter rbeing secured to the body by any suitablemeans, such as tubular rivets or lthe like. l

Desirabiy the body members of the switch unit, including its coverportion, base, and sub-base, are wholly of electrical insulationmaterial, certain of the moldable plastic materials being excellent forthe purpose. l

The mercury button 22 is advantageously oi the type wherein opposedmetallic body shells 22a, 22D, are separated by a central insulatingpartition 22o, provided with an aperture 22d. In open circuit position,as represented by Fig. 14, the mercury content of the button separatesinto disconnected pools. one on each side of the insulating partition22c. Rotation of the button displaces mercury to a position whereby itilows through the partition wall aperture to afford a path of currentilow from body shell 22a to shell 22h.

For mounting the button 22 for rotation, l. prefer to employ a metalliccup 36. see Fig. 4, the button is placed, and which is in electricalcontact with body shell 22a, only'l of the mercury button.` The cup 36is rotatively secured by means of a rivet or pin 38, the latter toconductor .or conductor 3l. the selection of the connection beingdetermined by the type of switch circuit to be employed. The conducgtors 33, 3|, are provided with contact means 36. 61, respectively,extending upwardly as shown in-Figure `5, and ,housed -witliininsulating pockets formed by suitable wall means of the switch bodyconstruction. For cooperation with such contacts 66, 61, the saddle 40is formed, see Fig. 10, with rearward extensions 58, 60, intermediatethe ends ot which are downwardly projecting blades 62, 63 of suitablelength to make electric contact with the contact means 66, y61.

'It is understood, however, that it is not contemplated that the blades62, 63 shall simultaneously be in electric connection with the contactmeans 56, 51; according to the type of circuit selected. one or theother of the blades 62, 63 .is out oi, a typical line of cut beingillustrated by the broken line in Figure 10. Figure 5 assumes that blade62 has been cut from the saddle structure. and hence blade 63 is inelectrical connection with contact 61, whereas contact 66 is outofservice. u

e Advantageously. the saddle 40 is employed to hold the switch nngerpiece trunnions in their cradles, and to this1 end said saddle hasrearward .extensions 66a; 60a slightly vertically oi!- set from themembers 53, 60, thereof and adapted to overlie the stated trunnions M asindicated e in Figure 2. Advantageously. the saddle has upwardlyprojecting portions 63h, 60h which bear firmly against the under side ofthe switch cover 24 when the latter is secured. in position. Also,

being electrically connected to conductor 3la as by the illustratedstrap38.

The button 22 is removably positioned within the cup 36, and to insurethat rotation of the cup effects rotation of the button, a rivet or bead31 provided on a side wall .of cup 36 is adapted to nt within a suitablegroove formed in the shell 22a. y

In electric contact with the shell 22h of the mercury button'andcooperating with the pin 38 to pivotally mount the button, I provide ametal saddle 40. see Fig. 10, adapted to overlie The saddle 40 is heldin position by the cover 24 and has bead 42 tting into a matchingdepression in mercury button shell 23a to cooperate with rivet 38 inproviding a pivotal mounting. The mercury button l22 may be removed fromthe cup 36, at will, by r'emoving the cap 24- and the saddle I0.

The tlnger member 2l is` pivotally supported on trunnions M, u,positioned in suitable opentopped bearings formed at the side walls ofbody 25. Paired overthrow springs 43, 43 may be employed, and rubbersurfaced bumpers 50, serve to limit the extent oi movement of the switchnger piece.

To translate the vertical rotative movement of member 2i into ahorizontal rotativel movement of'the mercury button 22. I find itadvantageous to employ a link 6I having at one end an aperture inengagement with a pin 62 on the underside of the button-retaining` cup36, and at its opposite end, a slot 63 in operative association withwhich is an ear 54 of the member 2l. A

Means are provided forV electrically connecting a terminal ot themercury switch 22 optionally it is desirable to provide spring means 69.A63 at the transverse member of the saddle Ill, said spring meansbearing against the under side o! the switch cover' to resiliently holdthe transverse'member ofthe saddle in position whereby the bead I2thereof is maintained in operative engagement with the depression formedin the Vswitch shell 22h. l 4

Referring now to Figures 'I and 9. the lamp 23 is advantageously mountedbetween spaced walls 65, 65 formed on the under side oi' the cover 24.One member, 66 of the lamp socket means is riveted or otherwise securedto said walls:

\ said socket membery is provided with a downfor the shell conductorelement of the lamp 23.

To complete the circuit to the lamp, bridge conductor means 10,.'seeFigure 11. is provided,

e the lamp 23, and with two downwardly extendsaid bridge meansbeingsuitably permanently securedto the insulating wall structures 65, 6l. Asis shown in Figure 11, the conductor 13 is formed with a central springcontactli for resilient engagement with the terminal contact ot ingblades 12, 13, any one of which is used in various lamp circuitarrangements.

For cooperation with blade 12 of bridge member 10, switch conductor 3|is provided with an upstanding electric contact 14, as shown in Figure6, said contact 1I' being positioned within a suitable' insulatinghousing. as appears in Figure 3.

For cooperation with blade 13 oi.' bridge member 1li, the switch unit isprovided with a bus bar 16, said bus.bar terminating inv-an electriccontact 16 as also shown in Figure 6.

It is apparent from Figure 8 that the bus bar- 13 is part oi anintegralA structure which includes the st'rap 3l and the rivet 3l whichforms the means of electrical contact with body shell 22a oi the mercurybutton 22.

According to which of the .blades 12, 13 is severed from the bridge 1l,therefore, the lamp 23 may be electrically connected'to conductor 3| andconductor 3l of the principal switch conductors, or, alternately, may bein ,a circuit comprising conductor 3|, bus bar 13, and conductor 3| a.In Figures 14 through 17, are illustrated sev'- eral typical circuitarrangements, made possible by selection oi the electrical connection atthe mercury switch 22 and at the lamp 23. For example, in Figure 14 thelamp 23 operatesasa beacon," said lamp being on when the mercury switchis in open circuit status: in other words, the lamp 23 is illuminated'when the load L is oil. In the circuit of Figure 14, the path oi currentis from the positive conductor of the main lighting circuit intoconductor 3|a of the switch, then through strap 33 to bus bar 1S whenceit passes, through blade 13 and contact 1|, .to the end terminal of thelamp. The lamp circuit is completed through the socket member I3 andblade 81, which is electrically connected through contact 66 toconductor 3|. As shown in Figure 14, the load L is shunted across theswitch conductors 3l, 3,0, and hence the path of electric current isthrough the load, through switch conductor and then to the negative poleof the power source. When the switch 22 is thrown to closed circuitcondition, the path of electricity is through switch conductor 3|a,through rivet 33,-

then through the switch to conductor 3|, for in the Figure 14 type ofcircuit, it is assumed that the blade 32 of saddle 40 has been severed,and

blade 63 is in electrical circuit with contact 31. According to thiscircuit, thelamp 23 is shunted out, and as the switch is thrown toclosed circuit status, `thereby energizing the load L, the lamp 23 isextinguished.

In the Figure 14 circuit, therefore, the lamp 23 serves as a beacon,glowing in the darkened room for example, 'to attract attention to aswitch.

In Figure 1 5, the switch circuit is set up in such manner a's to causethe lamp 23 to operate as a "pilot light, such as to indicate that acellar or closet lamp is on. In this circuit, the arrangement of theconductors of bridge member Il is as described with respect to thecircuit of Figure 14, but with respect to the lamp bridge member 10, theblade I3 thereof has been severed and blade 12 is in contact with thecontact 1l of switch conductor 30. In the Figure 15 circuit, therefore,the lamp 23 is in parallel with the load L, and will not be energizeduntil thev load is energized; in other words, the lamp 23 is oiI whenthe mercury switch 22. is in open circuit status and is energized whensaid switch is in closed status, said closed circuit status effecting anenergized status oi the load L.

Figure 16 represents an electric circuit wherein the switch is at oneend of a line and the load is intermediate the point of entry of theelectric power source and the switch. For example, a circuit arrangedaccording to Figure 16 may be used in a long hallor room wherein thepoint of electrical entry to the room is remote from the entrance tothe' room, at which the switch is placed, and electric lamps or otherload are distributed throughout the length of the room. In the Figure 16circuit, a jumper 30, see Figure 13, is used, 'the the switch conductors3l, 3|, to bridge the conductors. l

According to the Figure 16 circuit, the bridge member lll is arranged asin the Figure 14 circuit: the blade 32 has been severed and blade 63 isin electrical contact with contact 51. lamp circuit, blade 12 of bridge10 has been severed, and blade 13 is in electrical contact withV theterminal 15 of the bus bar 14. In such arrangement, the lamp 23 operatesas a beacon, because as clearly appears in Figure 16, with the switch 22in open circuit status, current may nevertheless iiow through the lamp,the jumper Il completing the path of current ilow from the positive tothe negative terminal of the electric current source. However, as is thesituation with yrespect to Figure 14, when the switch 22 is closed.

the lamp circuit is by-passed and the lamp is extinguished.

Figure 17 is suggestive of an electric circuit wherein for any reason itis not desirable to include the lamp 23 either'as a beacon or a pilot inthe electrical circuit, and wherein it may be undesirable orimpracticable to employ the jumper 30. In such arrangement, it is notedthat there is no connection whatever between the switch conductor 3| andthe switch conductor 30. To complete the electric circuit, therefore,the saddle member 40 is treated to sever the blade 33 therefrom leavingblade 62 for electrical engagement with the contact means 56 associatedwith lamp conductor 3|. The path of electric current, therefore, is fromthe switch conductor 3 la through the switch 22 to the switch conductor30, thence to and through the load L.

For the switch 20 when employed in the Figure 16 or Figure r1'1 circuit,wherein the switch may be at the end of the circuit, I provide a cap 33of electrical insulation material, said cap iittingv tinuously from endto end of said body portion,

another oi said conductor means comprising a pair oi conductor elementsmutually spaced and electrically insulated one from the other,rotatableelectric circuit breaking "means having one ter'.

minal electrically connected to one of said pair of conductor elenients.electrically conductive saddle means adapted to rotatably secure saidcircuit breaker and having means whereby a second terminal of saidcircuit breaking means may be optionally connected to the second of saidpair of conductor elements or to said continuously extending conductor,i'lnger piece means rotatably mounted within said'body, link meansoperatively associating said finger piece means and said circuitbreaking means, means associated with said saddle means to retainsaidfinger piece means within said body, and cover means operativelyassociated with said saddle means to maintain the latter in operativeposition. said sP'idle means having spring members arranged to bearresillently against the underside of VSaid pins Il, I2, of the jumperbeing inserted into 'Il cover means.l

In the s s. sn electric switch comprising a may pc:- tion, electricityconductor means arranged there.. in, one of said conductor meansextending continuously from end to end oi said body portion.'

' extending conductor, finger piece means rotatably mounted within saidbody,.link means oper- A atively associating said nger piece means andsaid circuit breaking means, means associatec with said saddle means toretain said iinger piece means within said body, and cover lmeansoperativelv associated with said saddle means to maintain the latter inoperative position.

'matassa ot conductor elements, electrically conductive saddle meansadapted to rotatably secure said circuit breaker and lhaving meanswhereby a second terminal of said circuit breaking means ml! beoptionally connected to the second oi' said pair oi conductor elementsor to said continuously extending conductor, finger piece meansrotatably mounted within said body, link means operatively-associatingsaid lingerpiece means 3. An electric switch comprising a body porytion, electricity conductor means arranged therein, one of saidconductor means extending continuously from end to end oi said lbodyportion, another of said conductor means comprising a pair oi' conductorelements mutually spaced and electrically insulated one from the other,rov tatable electric circuit breaking means having one terminalelectrically connected to one of said pair of conductor elements,electrically conductive saddle means adapted to rotatably secure saidcircuit breaker and having means whereby a second terminaloi saidcircuit breaking means may be optionally connected to the second ofsaid` pair of conductor elements or to said con^ tinuously extendingconductor, finger piece means rotatably -mounted within said body, linkmeans operatively associating said linger piece means and said circuitbreaking means, means associated with said saddle means to retain saidfinger piece means within said body, cove'r means, and

lamp means mounted on said cover means, and

'adapted optionally to be connected to a selected two of the three bodyportion conductors, said cover means maintaining the saddle means andthe lamp connection means in operative position. 4. An electric switchcomprising a. body portion, electricity conductor means arrangedtherein. one of said conductor means extending continuously from end toend oi said body portion,

another of said conductor means comprising a pair oi conductor elementsmutually spaced and electrically insulated one from the other, rotatableelectric circuit breaking means having one and said circuit breakingmeans, means associated with said saddle means to'retain said finaalpiece means within said body, cover means, lamp means mounted on saidcover means, andmeans for optionally connecting said lamp means inseries or in parallel relationship withsaid conductor means, said covermeans maintaining the saddle means and the lamp connection means inoperative position.

5. An electric switch comprising afbody. a plurality of electricityconductors arranged therein in insulated relationship with respect toeach other, an electric switch having one of its terminals in removablecontact with one 'of said electricity conductors. spring contact meansof the blade-receiving type on the remaining electricity conductors,integral saddle means ot electrically conductive. material in engagementwith a second terminal oi' said switch and urging said switch intoengagement with said yfirst-named electricitylconductor, said saddlemeans having severable electric contacts comprising blade-likeextensions for electrically connecting the second lterminal of saidswitch optionallifto thespring contact means of one or another of saidremaining electricity conductors, and means for moving said switch toopen or closed circuit position.

6. An electric switch comprising a body portion. electricity conductormeans arranged therein, one of said conductor means extending con`tinuously from end to end of said body portion, another oi' saidconductor means comprising a pair of conductor elements mutually spacedand terminal electrically connected to one of said pair electricallyinsulated one Vfrom the other, rotatable electric circuit breaking meanshaving 'one terminal electrically connected to one of said pair ofconductor; elements, electrically conductive saddle means adapted torotatably secure said circuit breaker and having means whereby a secondterminal of said circuit breaking means mav be optionally connected tothe second of said pair of conductor elements or to said continuouslyextending conductor, linger piece means rotatably mounted within saidbody, link means operatively associating said linger piece means andsaid circuit breaking means, and cover means operatively associated withsaid saddle means to maintain the latter in operative position.

JOSEPH F. OBRIEN.

